General Science Lab Rubric
Distinguished (3) / Satisfactory (2) / Borderline (1) / Unsatisfactory (0)FORMAT
Title Page / Contains title, name, date, course, teacher, period. / Missing one except title or name. / Missing two except title or name. / Missing more than two, or title or name.
Sequence / Logically sequenced: Question, Hypoth., Test, Mater./Proc., Data, Anal./Conclusion. All present. / Not more than one category missing or out of sequence. / Not more than 2 categories missing or out of sequence. / More than 2 categories missing or out of sequence.
Clarity / Lab report sections clearly distinct from each other; grammatically correct English; figures/graphs correctly titled & labeled. / Sections clearly labeled but not separated; English generally correct; figures/graphs correctly labeled but not titled. / Sections labeled but not separated; frequent errors in grammar; figures/graphs labeled but contain errors in units, axes or headings. / Sections not labeled nor separated; English poor; figures/graphs not titled nor labeled.
REPRODUCIBILITY
Hypothesis / Clear explanation of purpose; educates by providing context. / Gives a correct purpose with some framework / Declares a purpose that is correct. / Purpose is incorrect.
Design / Clear step-by-step description of experimental procedures; labeled diagrams/drawings of any apparatuses/devices used to carry out the experiment. / Step-by-step description that misses not more than one key detail; diagrams/drawings included but not labeled / Step-by-step description that misses not more than two key details; apparatuses/devices mentioned but not shown. / Description lacks more than two key details; no mention of apparatuses/devices used to carry out the experiment.
Detail / Includes formulas/calculations used to analyze data & explains their use. Records observations and explains their import. All original data included. / Includes formulas and calculations used to analyze data. Records observations, sometimes their import. Most original data included. / Includes formulas and some calculations used to analyze data. Records some observations. Some original data included. / Does not include formulas nor calculations used to analyze data. No observations noted. Original data not present.
ACCURACY
Units / Units are used correctly and consistently throughout the report. / Units generally used correctly in most of report / Units used only in some key parts of report. / Units are rarely used or are generally incorrect.
Data Manipulation / Calculations clearly laid out. Dimensional analysis/Math correct. Figures display data correctly, all variables labeled. / Calculations contain few errors in dimensional analysis or math. Figures correct, variables unlabeled. / Calculations contain some errors in diminsional analysis or math. Figures correct. No labels or legend. / Dimensional is analysis not used. Math not shown. Figures display data incorrectly.
CONCLUSION
Framework / Restates the hypothesis, supports or refutes it and explains the role of the test in making the decision. / Restates the hypothesis and supports or refutes it. / Supports or refutes the hypothesis without restating it. / Does not address the hypothesis.
Evidence / Uses data powerfully as evidence to support statements. / Uses data to support statements. / Refers to data in the body of the report as support. / Does not use data to support arguments
Logic / Conclusion is logically forced from data and prior knowledge. / Conclusion is logical but not thoroughly defended. / The conclusion is logical but poorly defended / The conclusion is incorrect.
Error / Identifies sources of error and explains effect on results. / Identifies sources of error. / Suggests possibility of error but identifies no sources. / Does not address possibility of error.
Context / The expt. is made meaningful by discussion of its scientific or societal implications; proposals for further investigation are made. / An application or use of the work is provided; a proposal for further investigation is made. / The work is generally ascribed to be useful but no rationale is provided for thinking so. / No relevance is provided for the work.